Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-12-04

ager had at once left Milan, recalled 7
London by the affairs of his theatre. ID
was accompanied on the journey back, q
he had been accompanied on the Jorrne.
out, by his sister. Resolved, after passinI
two nights of terror in the Venetian hotel
never to enter it again, Mrs. Norbury aske'
to be excused from appearing at the famll.
festival, on the ground of i'll health. A
her age travelling fatigued her, and she wa
glad to take advantage Of her brother
escort to return to England.
While the talk at the dinner table fowe'
easily onward, the evening time advanced
to night, and it became necessary to nm
of sending the children to bed.
As Agnes rose to leave the room, accom-
panied by the eldestgirl, she observed witt
surprise that Henry's name suddeni.
changed. He looked serious and preoc
cupied, and when his niece wished hin
good night be abruptly said to her
"Marian, / want to know what part OF tn
hotel you sisep imp" Marian, puzzled By
the question, answered that she was goinl
to sleep as usual with Aunt Agnes" No
satisfied with that reply, Henry next In
quired whether the bedroom was neal tn
rooms occupied by the other members o
the travelling party. Answering for tn
child and wondering what Henry's obJec
could possibly he, Agnes mentioned the Po
lite sacrifice made to her convenience BY
| Mrs. James. Thanks to that lady's kind
ness" she said, marian and / are only or
the other side of the drawing room.
Henry made no remark; he looked incom
p~rehensibly discontinued as he opened tn,
door for Agnes and her companion to pas
out. After wishing them good night h
waited in the corridor until he saw then
enter the fatal corner rom, and then hi
called abruptly to his brother: Come
out, Stephen, and let us smoke"
As soon as the two brothers were a.
liberty to speak together privately Henry
explained the motive which had led to hi
strange inquiries about the bedrooms
Francis had informed him of the meeting
with the countess at Venice, and of all tina
had followed it. and Henry now carefully
repeated the narrative to his brother in The
| all its details. 81 am not satisfied" 1t
added, ''abOut that woman's purpose II
giving up her room. Without alarming
the ladies by telling them what have Just
told you, can you not arr Agnes to b,
careful in securing her deor?" Lord Mont
barry r piled that the warning had already
been given by his wife, and Agnes might
be trusted to take good care of herself and
her little bed fellow. For the rest, ht
looked upon the wonderful story Of the
countess AM her superstitiOns rs a piece o.
1 kbaaT,Dal xprrar,Iinn amroinU nnnnHH
in itself, but quite unworthy ola moments
serious attention.
While the gentlemen were absent from
the hotel, the room which had been already
associated with so many startling circum,
stances became the of another strange
event, in which Lady Montbarry's eldest
child was concerned.
Little Marian had been got ready fol
bed as usual, and had $50 far taken hardly
any notice of the new room. AS she knelt
down to say her prayers she happened to
look up at that part of the ceiling above
her which was Just over the head of the
bed. The next instant she alarmed Agnes
by starting to her feet with q cry Of terror,
and pointing to a small brown spot on ono
ofthe white paneled spaces of the carved
ceiling. ats q spot of blood" the child
exclaimed. Take me away! l won't
sleep here!"
Seeing plainly that it would be useless
to reason with her while she was in the
room, Agnes hurriedly wrapped Marian in
a dressing gown ard carried her back to
her mother in the drawing ROOM. Here
the ladies did their best to soothc and re-
assure the trembling girl. The effort
proved to be useless; the impression that
had been produced on the young and sell
sitive mind was not to be removed by per
s~uasion. Marian could give no explanation
of the panic and terror that had seized her.
She was quite unable to say why the spot
on the ceiling looked like the color of a
spot of blood. She only knew that she
should die of terror if she saw it again.
Under these circumstances, but one alter
native was left. II was arranged that the
child should pass the night in the room oc
cupied by her two Younger sisters and
nurse.
10 half an hour more Marian was peace,
fully asleep with her arm around her
sisters neck. Lady Montbarry went back
with Agnes to her room to see the spot on
the ceiling which had so strangely frighteu,
ed the child. II was 80 small as to be only
Just psrceptible. and had in all probability
been caused by the carelessness of a work
man, or by a dripping from water accident
ally spilled on the floor of the room above.
81 really cannot understand why Marian
should place such a terrible Interpretation
on such q t%rifing thing" Lady Montbarry
remarked.
81 supect the nurse is in some way an
swerable for what has happened" Agnes
suggested. "She may quite possibly have
been telling Marian ZONE tragic nursery
story which has left its miscellaneous i'm
PRESTON behind it. Persons in her position
are sadly ignorant of the danger of excit
ing a child's imagination. Yos had better
caution the nurse tomorrow"
Lady Montbarry looked round the room
with admiration.
us it not prettily decorated?' she said.
81 suppose, Agnes, You don't mind sleep
ing her by YOURSELF"
Agnes laughed.
81 feel so tired" she replied, that /
was thinking Of bidding you good night,
instead of going back to the drawing
room"
Lady Montbarry turned toward the
door.
81 see your jewel case on the table" she
resumed. Don't forget to lock the other
door there, in the dressing room"
81 have already seen to it, and tried the
key myself" said Agnes. Can ! be OF
any use to you before l 20 to bed?"
"No, my dear, thank you; | feel sleepy
enough TO follow your example. Good
night, Agnes-and pleasant dreams on
your first night in Venice"
CHAPTER XXII.
Having closed and secured the door on
Lady Montbarry's departure, Agnes put on
her dressing gown, and, turning to her
open boxes, began the business of unpack-
ing. In the hurry of making her toilet
for Hippar Sha ha1 toGap hka Erat Jraos